1 Chronicles - Odessacofchrist.org

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Chronicles 112. The family of Simeon 4:24-43The writer may have listed Simeon's descendants next because the Simeonites shared thetribal territory God gave to Judah. The Judahites absorbed many of them throughintermarriage shortly after settlement in the land.3. The families of Transjordan ch. 5Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan River. Reubenwould have normally been the son of Jacob through whom the greatest blessing wouldcome since he was the first-born. However because of his sin (v. 1) God passed him over.God blessed Joseph with the double portion of the birthright. He did this by elevatingJoseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to equality among Jacob's other sons, Joseph'sbrothers. God's blessing of Judah with leadership over the Israelites was contrary tonatural order. It was pure grace for those tribes.God was not only faithful to bless as He had promised, but He also judged sin as He hadsaid He would (vv. 25-26). This is the reason the transjordanian tribes went into captivity.4. The family of Levi ch. 6This list clearly defines the priests and Levites' line of descent. Only the descendants ofAaron, the priests, could serve in the temple by offering sacrifices on the incense altar (v.49; cf. Num. 3:5-38). Nehemiah correctly barred priests who could not demonstrate thatthey were descendants of Aaron from serving in the rebuilt (second) temple (Neh. 7:63-65).The priests could only function when Israel dwelt in the Promised Land and as long asthe tabernacle or temple God had blessed with His presence stood. With the return fromexile the ritual of covenant worship was again possible. Consequently the priesthood wasvery important to the restoration community.God had given the special privilege of being priests to Aaron and his sons as a graciousblessing. Normally the first-born son acted as priest of the family in the ancient NearEast. This was one of the privileges of the birthright. Reuben had forfeited this, too, byhis sin.Verses 1-15 trace Aaron's descendants, the high priests, to the Babylonian exile."Some writers have wanted to portray the high priest in postexilic times inan exalted position. But it is striking how little attention the Chroniclergives to the role of high priest. . . .". . . in a number of passages he put considerable emphasis on faith in Godas the way to blessing but rarely on ritual perfection." 3232 Thompson, p. 36.